FAITH PLUS WORKS 1994 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH

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1 FAITH PLUS WORKS 1994 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC FAITH 1. The Church is needed for your salvation It is in the Church that the fullness of the means of salvation has been deposited. It is in her that by the grace of God we acquire holiness. (No. 824) 2. Maintenance of good works are needed for your salvation Even though incorporated into the church, one who does not persevere in charity is not saved. James 2:14,17 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?... Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (No. 837) We can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life. (No.2027) 3. The 7 Sacraments are needed for salvation The Church affirms that... the sacraments of the New Covenant are necessary for salvation. (No.1129) SCRIPTURES RESPONSE 1. Context of James 2:14 is found in verses 4-7, what profit is a faith that is prejudice, partial, hateful, despising, and blasphemes? James then asks to see some Good Works that accompany salvation in verse 14. Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. (James 2:22-23) 2. Jesus on works for salvation Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. (John 3:3) And saying, the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)

2 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. (John 6:29) And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40) Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6) 3. Peter on works for salvation And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (Matt 16:16) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (Acts 2:21) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; (Acts 3:19) To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43) Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (1 Pet 1:18-19) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Pet 2:24) 4. Paul on works for salvation Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Rom. 4:4_5)

3 (Rom. 3:28) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Gal. 2:16) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8-9) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Gal. 3:26) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; (Titus 3:5) FAITH PLUS MORE WORKS If anyone shall say that justifying faith is nothing else than confidence in the divine mercy pardoning sins for Christ s sake... Let him be accursed. (Work of the Council of Trent, Canon 12) Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:31) (Rom 3:28) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7)

4 Those who belong to Christ through faith and Baptism must profess their Baptismal faith before men. (No.14) The second part of the Catechism explains how God s salvation, accomplished once for all through Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is made present in the sacred actions of the Church s liturgy especially in the seven sacraments. (No.15) [Jesus]... when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Heb 1:3) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph 2:8-9) Faith apart from works is dead: when it is deprived of hope and love, faith does not fully unite the believer to Christ and does not make him a living member of His body. (No. 1815) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (Rom 3:22) Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Gal 2:16) The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith but also service to the faith is necessary to salvation. (No.1816) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Rom 4:5) being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Rom 5:1) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight (Rom 3:20) (Rom 3:28)

5 Salvation comes from GOD alone; but because we receive the life of faith through the Church, she is our mother: We believe the church as the Mother of our new birth, and not in the church as the author of our salvation. (No.169) He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; (Heb 5:9) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; (Heb 12:2) For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Tim 4:10) But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, (Titus 3:4-5) We do not believe in formulas, but in those realities they express, which faith allows us to touch. The believers act [of faith]... terminates in the realities they express. (No.170) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Heb 11:1)... The Church our mother teaches us the language of faith in order to introduce us to understanding and the life of faith. (No.171) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17) We believe all that is contained in the word of God, written or handed down, and which the Church proposes for belief as divinely revealed (Paul VI, CPG, par. 20) (No.182) But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (I Jn 2:27)